Brust, James S., Pohanka, Brian C., Barnard, Sandy. Where Custer fell; photographs of the Little Bighorn battlefield then and now.

BRUST, James S., POHANKA, Brian C., BARNARD, Sandy. Where Custer fell; photographs of the Little Bighorn battlefield then and now. Univ. of Oklahoma Press. 226p. illus. notes, bibliog, index, c2005.0-8061-3834-3. $24.95. JSA *

This is a careful step-by-step recreation of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It is also a pictorial history of one aspect of American photography, since photographers have been combing this 1876 battlefield since 1877. It is also the result of an enormous amount of research and study by three dedicated historians. "Custer's Last Stand" has taken on a mythic quality in the lore of the American frontier. This text brings a blast of reality to the scene, pairing 19th- and early 20th-century photographs with those taken from exactly the same spot by the authors over the past 15 years. Included too are brief biographies of the original photographers.

Each location in the battle between the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians and the US Cavalry forces is identified, clearly mapped, placed in context and then shown, the older print beside the new one. The careful reader can follow every detail of the conflict. Copious notes and descriptions of the various archeological digs and studies that have attempted to fix the locations of each aspect of the battle enrich the text. Patricia Moore, Chestnut HILL, MA

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.